Nicholas “Nick” Riley, a 30-year-old Black man, was found fatally shot on Saturday, December 20, 2014, inside a vehicle at the Woodland Apartments complex in the Wilmington area of Delaware. At approximately 12:43 p.m., New Castle County Police responded to a report of a suspicious car near 67 Lowery Drive. Officers discovered two occupants inside: Riley, who had died from a gunshot wound, and a second victim who was still alive but seriously injured.
Riley was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other victim was transported to Christiana Hospital in critical condition. Later police summaries confirmed that the second victim survived. Detectives from the county’s Criminal Investigations Unit took over the investigation, and authorities classified Riley’s death as a homicide. An early police announcement identified him as a Newark resident, although he was discovered at the Wilmington-area apartment complex.
As investigators searched for leads, they asked the public to help identify the car in which the victims had been found—a silver 2002 Nissan Altima with tinted windows. On December 23, police released photographs of the vehicle and requested information from anyone who recognized it. An earlier update also announced that officers were searching for a white 2006 Toyota Avalon bearing Delaware registration 180795. That announcement did not explain the Avalon’s connection to the shooting or identify anyone associated with it as a suspect.
Riley’s death came just five days before Christmas. His funeral was scheduled for December 27 at Seeds of Greatness Bible Church in New Castle, with burial at Gracelawn Memorial Park. In memorial tributes, friends and relatives remembered his smile, kindness, and generosity. His mother, Jacqueline Riley, described him as a wonderful son and father to his children, expressing the heartbreak his death had brought to the family.
The investigation continued without a publicly announced resolution. In September 2016, another appeal sought information that could help the Cold Case Homicide Squad solve the killing. On December 20, 2025, the eleventh anniversary of Riley’s death, New Castle County Police again highlighted the case and asked the public for assistance. The department continued to describe the homicide as unsolved. Its public updates did not name a suspect or announce an arrest, and the available case reporting did not establish any criminal charges, trial, or conviction connected to Riley’s death.
In the anniversary appeal, investigators asked anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at 302-395-8110 or [email protected]. Anonymous information could also be submitted through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, which offered rewards of up to $5,000 for qualifying tips leading to an arrest.
